TheChat: Sen. Roy Blunt says the emphasis needs to be on the future of health care

▪ “What we need to talk about now is how you move forward from here.” — Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican, speaking about health care in a visit to a Jefferson City hospital.

On this point, he and Democrats are in complete agreement. Democrats have been saying for years that it’s time to stop undermining the Affordable Care Act and figure out how to improve it. During the same visit, Blunt said the Senate lacks the votes to repeal Obamacare. (links courtesy of johncombest.com).

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History shows that winners of presidential nominations follow certain rules, including the idea that the nominee has to have wide support from party elites. Trump doesn’t have it.

▪ “I’m taking the time that we were given in Congress to really explore every inch of this deal and what the alternative is.” — Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, on whether she’ll support President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.

She has issues with it, including concerns that it wouldn’t totally shut down the nation’s nuclear development program. She’s also trying to figure out what happens if the U.S. pulls out of the deal.

▪ “This deal gives us the best chance we have had in years to halt the Iranian nuclear program.” — Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz, a Democrat, announcing his support of the proposal.